The Uterus as the Origin of Embryonic Programming
A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that a person’s health begins long before birth—perhaps even before pregnancy itself. At the Carlos Simon Foundation, the Maternal–Embryo Communication research group studies how molecular dialogue between mother and embryo during the earliest stages of conception may shape long-term health outcomes.
Genetic Crosstalk Before Implantation
In the first few days after fertilization, the embryo remains unattached, freely floating within the uterine cavity. During this time, maternal endometrial cells secrete extracellular vesicles packed with molecules—such as microRNAs and proteins—that can be absorbed by the embryo.
These molecular messages influence gene expression in the embryo and may ultimately shape its development and physiology. Our research has demonstrated that the mother can influence embryonic fate even before clinical pregnancy begins.
Early Programming and Lifelong Health: A Preventive Paradigm Shift
An increasing number of studies confirm that the uterine environment in which the embryo develops can have lifelong effects. For example:
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Children born to mothers with obesity face a higher risk of childhood obesity.
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Gestational diabetes increases the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes in adulthood.
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Maternal stress during pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease in offspring.
Understanding the molecular mechanisms behind this “early programming” offers a new lens for prevention—not just during childhood or adulthood, but starting from conception itself.
Toward Personalized Reproductive Medicine
This knowledge opens new clinical avenues: from optimizing the uterine environment during assisted reproductive treatments to identifying modifiable risk factors during the preconception period.
At the Carlos Simon Foundation, we are committed to advancing personalized medicine by unraveling this silent yet decisive conversation between mother and embryo. As part of this commitment, we actively participate in eprObes, a European research initiative led by an international consortium aiming to prevent obesity across the lifespan by identifying risk factors in the periconceptional window.
Learn more about our work in maternal–embryo communication:
https://carlossimonfoundation.com/research/maternal-embryonic-crosstalk/
Discover the European project eprObes:
https://eprobes.eu/